Global Association of Culture and Peace (GACP)

One of several front groups and affiliated organziations associated with cult leader Jung Myung Seok.

Members of a controversial religious group, led by an international fugitive wanted for numerous instances of alleged rape and sexual assault of female members, recently held an event at UCSD, which included a modeling show featuring young women, singing and videotaped religious messages from the group’s founder — hallmarks of the group’s tactics to recruit new members.

The group, known as the Global Association of Culture and Peace, was established by 61-year-old South Korean national Jung Myung Seok, who also goes by the name Joshua Jung. The group, widely regarded by international press as a cult, also goes by several other names, including JMS, Providence, Setsuri and the Bright Smile Movement.– Source: Alleged Cult Sows Seeds Via Campus Event, The Guardian, University of California, San Diego, USA, Nov. 13, 2006

Websites of several GACP branches have disappeared in recent years. One such site described the GACP’s mission as follows:

The mission of the Global Association of Culture and Peace is to provide forums of interaction through sports, arts, and culture in order to promote peace and love.

By holding events with the purpose of world peace, we can eliminate our misunderstandings and make new friends across the globe that last a lifetime!

There are similar organizations in other cities across the nation and in other countries around the world. Once a member of GACP, there are countless opportunities to experience the excitement of world travel, and you will have the chance to participate in international peace events where people from all GACP member countries gather together to advance its ideals. From international soccer tournaments, to volleyball tournaments, to artistic and cultural performances ranging wide from nations across Europe, Asia, and North America, these worldwide peace events are the manifestation of GACP’s vision.– Source: About Us: Mission Statement GACP of Los Angeles, as archived by the Internet Archive on Apr. 1, 2006

Media reports state that Jung Myung Seok’s cult attempts to recruit students and others through sports, cultural and other club activities:

According to accounts of ex-members, followers are instructed to approach students pretending they represent Bible societies, sports groups or campus dancing clubs.

A former student at Kwansei Gakuin University in Hyogo Prefecture was first invited to join a sports group in April 2000 when he was a freshman.

He played volleyball and basketball with the group for about half a year before being invited to a Bible study session, where he was brainwashed with the cult’s teachings.

It was not until then that he learned his friends were cult members, and their apartment was a “church.”

“I could not easily leave (the cult) because I did not want to lose friends,” said the man, who eventually quit at the urging of relatives after he graduated from university.

Ex-members say recruiting on campus started on Jung’s orders in the mid-1990s.

“It’s a fraudulent activity, as they conceal the group’s identity in luring members,” a lawyer said.– Source: Setsuri: Cult aimed at elite in 50 universities, The Asahi Shimbun, Japan, July 31, 2006

More information, including news articles and links to research resources, at the entry on Jung Myung Seok.